Benguet rep barred from leaving PH

MANILA — Former Beneguet Rep. Samuel Dangwa and his son, former chief of staff, Erwin, was barred from leaving the country pending the trial of the criminal charges filed against them for their alleged involvement in the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

A hold departure order was issued against the Dangwas by the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division.

Dangwas, meanwhile, posted bail amounting to nearly P1 million following the Office of the Ombudsman approval of their indictment for several counts of graft and malversation charges.

The Dangwas has already settle for the bail option even before the court had ordered their arrest, according to Dennis Pulma, the division clerk of court.

“It’s their judgment. Under the Rules of Court, an accused may post bail even if there’s yet to be a determination of probable cause or before the issuance of an arrest warrant,” Pulma told reporters.

He added that a bail of P30,000 for each count of graft, P40,000 for malversation and P20,000 for every case of bribbery has been recommended by the court.

Pulma also revealed that Dangwa paid a total of P520,000, for his indictment of 17 counts of graft, bribery and malversation.

Dangwa was accused of funneling P54 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). The amount was allegedly allotted for the bogus non-government organizations set up by the pork barrel scam mastermind, Janet Lim Napoles form 2001 to 2010.

Meanwhile, his son Erwin posted a bail of P420,000.

“This court, in the exercise of its inherent power to use all means necessary to carry its orders into effect… hereby orders the commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration to hold the departure from the Philippines of the… accused and to include [them] in the Hold Departure list of said bureau,” it added.